Commissionerate system restored in Karachi

Acting Sindh Governor Nisar Ahmed Khuro signing three ordinances restoring the commissioner system in the province which was disrupted during the Musharraf regime. PHOTO: APP

KARACHI: Following orders from the President, the Sindh government restored the commissionerate ordinance 1979 in Karachi on Saturday after acting Sindh Governor Nisar Khuro signed the ordincances.
The commissionerate system was restored after the Acting Sindh Governor signed three different ordinances reactivating an amended Land Revenue Act 1967 and replaced the 2001 local government ordinance with the 1979 Sindh local government ordinance.
In addition to this, the Governor also signed an order to abolish the police order of 2002 and replaced it with the police act of 1861.
By reactivating the Sindh Local Government Ordinance of 1979, the 18 Towns of Karachi will be abolished and the city will revert to the old five administrative districts system.
After the local bodies election of 2001 former president Pervez Musharraf brought an end to the commissionerate through an ordinance. Under the 17th Amendment it was protected by constitution. but the current government through the 18th Amendment gave the power of it’s restoration to the provinces.
Former status of Hyderabad district will also be restored where a deputy commissioner will be deployed in place of the DCO and will work under the commissioner.
Under the commissionerate system Sindh will also be divided into five divisions including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and Larkana.
Every division will be divided into its old district-format – as at the time of commissionerate system in place. A commissioner will be appointed in each dvision.
Karachi will constitute of five districts, Hyderabad will constitute of four districts, Mirpur Khas will also constitute of four districts, Larkana will constitute of five districts while Sukkur will constitute between three to four districts.
Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister, Senator Maula Buksh Chandio has said that there is no political agenda behind the restoration of the commissionerate system in Sindh and the next local bodies election will be held according to the now-restored commissionerate system.
While speaking to media after a meeting with the head of Jamiat Ulma Pakistan Abulkhair Mohammad Zubair, the federal minister said that the reason behind the delay in the commissionerate system is not politics or expedience rather they want all parties on board on this issue.
He said that the local government system had increased the problems for the nation. He added that if the MQM was opposing the commissionerate system then it is was a strategy they chose.
Farooq Sattar, has said that the MQM was ready to provide its unconditional support to the government.
The restoration of the commissionerate was pending for the last two years due to the opposition of the MQM. The MQM wanted the Musharraf era local government system restored along with local body elections.